title: Hypnotic and sedative drugs--anything new on the horizon?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Many studies of new intravenous sedative drugs have been published last year, including several phase I trials. This review provides a brief summary of these studies, with recommendations for selected reading.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Remimazolam is a rapidly metabolized benzodiazepine. Early clinical trials confirm more rapid recovery compared with midazolam. Etomidate analogues can be designed with rapid metabolism and without adrenocortical suppression, but research is only at the preclinical stage. MR04A3 and AZD3043 are gamma-aminobutyric acid A agonists with phase I data, but the outlook for further development is uncertain. Pioneers of intravenous emulsions of volatile anesthetics continue their work.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Many of the new sedative drugs were designed to undergo rapid metabolism. Remimazolam has great potential to enter clinical practice because of its rapid offset of action.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesia and Intensive Care, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong SAR, China. tgin@cuhk.edu.hk
authors.forename: Tony
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gin
mesh_terms: D018685:Anesthetics, Inhalation / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001569:Benzodiazepines / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology; D004655:Emulsions; D005045:Etomidate / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000494:pharmacology*; D054833:Isoindoles / Q000494:pharmacology; D010648:Phenylacetates / Q000494:pharmacology; D010879:Piperazines / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: C534223:3-(2-(4-methyl-1-piperazinyl)-2-oxoethyl)-2-phenyl-3,5,6,7-tetrahydrocyclopenta(f)isoindol-1(2H)-one; C573579:AZD-3043; D018685:Anesthetics, Inhalation; D004655:Emulsions; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D054833:Isoindoles; D010648:Phenylacetates; D010879:Piperazines; D001569:Benzodiazepines; C522201:remimazolam; D005045:Etomidate